West Bromwich Albion can go above Chelsea in the English Premier League table with a win over Sunderland in the early kickoff on Saturday.
The Baggies have been in irresistible form this season, with new manager Steve Clarke turning them into a strong outfit capable of defending well, while also scoring more than enough goals to get the results. West Brom are in fourth on 23 points, a point behind third-placed Chelsea, the team they beat 2-1 last weekend.
"It is a demanding week on the players and the squad will need to step forward and be counted this week," Clarke said. "I've been saying all season I've got a good squad, a big squad, and they've shown over the 12 games so far that when they come in, they are ready to play.
"In a week like this I've got to look at the three games but the players only look at the next game. I've got to think about what I might do at the end of the week if we get through the first two games okay.
"But you never know how you're going to go and the players can only concentrate on the game on Saturday -- and that's the message they'll get.
"I've got to look at the whole week. The first thing is we've got a difficult game at Sunderland.
"But what happens on Saturday will shape the rest of the week and I've got in my mind now a team for Wednesday night and Saturday."
"If I've got a player who is really important to me he will probably play all three games if he's fit and available."
Sunderland will be buoyed by a much-needed 3-1 victory over Fulham last Sunday, and manager Martin O'Neill has called on his team to carry the momentum. "West Bromwich Albion are having a fantastic season so far," O'Neill said. "They have had a great start.
"Some of the games that they've lost -- at Newcastle, for example -- they might consider themselves a little unlucky.
"It's a big test for us but we have to look forward to it now because of the result against Fulham at Craven Cottage and just be ready for the game."
Sunderland will have Craig Gardner back in the team, after the utility man served a one-match suspension.
West Brom will be without influential midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu, who suffered an injury in the game against Chelsea, while Ben Foster remains ruled out. Gareth McAuley, however, is available after recovering from his injury.
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Expected lineups: Sunderland: Mignolet; Bardsley, Cuellar, O'Shea, Rose; Cattermole, Colback; Johnson, Larsson, Sessegnon; Fletcher.
West Brom: Myhill; Jones, Olsson, Tamas, Ridgewell; Yacob, Dorrans; Morrison, Gera, Odemwingie; Long.
Prediction: 1-1
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